Did you let your DTV converter box coupon expire? Good news – the government on Tuesday announced that it will now allow people with expired coupons to apply for replacements.

“With the backlog of applications now eliminated, consumers can apply for coupons and get assistance right away, allowing them to continue to receive important local television news and emergency information by purchasing a converter box at a reduced cost,” Anna Gomez, acting director of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) said in a statement.

When the converter box program – which provides every American household with two $40 coupons – was originally conceived, it put a 90-day expiration date on the coupons so that the government could keep tabs on how much money was being spent. Some people, however, were unable to find the boxes at their local stores and were forced to let the coupons expire, and the government was not at liberty to issue replacements.

A recent rule change, however, will now allow for replacement coupons to be sent out.

People who want new coupons can request them at www.DTV2009.gov, call 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), mail an application to P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208 or fax an application to 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632). Deaf or hard of hearing callers may use 1-877-530-2634 (TTY).

If you have redeemed one of the coupons but let the other one expire, you are eligible to receive one additional coupon.